Overview Information

Lemon balm is a perennial herb from the mint family. The leaves, which have a mild lemon aroma, are used to make medicine. Lemon balm is used alone or as part of various multi-herb combination products.

How does it work?

Uses & Effectiveness?

Possibly Effective for

Alzheimer disease. Taking lemon balm by mouth for 4 months may reduce agitation, improve thinking, and reduce symptoms of Alzheimer disease. Lemon balm aromatherapy has also been used in people with Alzheimer disease. But there's no reliable evidence supporting a benefit of this form of lemon balm.

Anxiety. Some research shows that taking a specific lemon balm product (Cyracos by Naturex SA) reduces symptoms in people with anxiety disorders. Also, early research shows that taking a product containing lemon balm plus 12 other ingredients (Klosterfrau Melissengeist by Klosterfrau) reduces anxiety symptoms such as nervousness or edginess.

Cold sores (herpes labialis). Applying a lip balm containing an extract of lemon balm (LomaHerpan by Infectopharm) to cold sores seems to shorten healing time and reduce symptoms if applied at the early stages of infection.

Insomnia. Taking lemon balm (Cyracos by Naturex SA) twice daily for 15 days improves sleep in people with insomnia. Taking lemon balm in combination with other ingredients also seems to improve sleep quality in people with sleeping disorders. Early research shows that taking 1-2 tablets of a specific product containing lemon balm and valerian root (Euvegal forte by Schwabe Pharmaceuticals) once or twice daily might decrease sleep problems associated with restlessness in children under age 12. It's unknown if the effect of this latter product is due to lemon balm, valerian, or the combination.

Stress. Early research shows that taking a single dose of lemon balm increases calmness and alertness in adults under mental stress. Other early research shows that adding lemon balm to a food or drink reduces anxiety and improves memory and alertness during mental testing. Lemon balm also appears to reduce anxious behavior in children during dental exams. Taking lemon balm along with other ingredients at a low dose appears to reduce anxiety during psychological stress in a laboratory. But taking the combination at a higher dose appears to worsen stress-induced anxiety.

Insufficient Evidence for

Memory and thinking skills (cognitive function). Early research shows that taking a single dose of lemon balm improves accuracy but slows performance on a timed memory test. Other early research shows that taking lemon balm in combination with other ingredients seems to improve word recall in adults under 63 years of age. But it doesn't seem to be beneficial in older adults.

Excessive crying in infants (colic). Giving certain products containing lemon balm and other ingredients to infants with colic for 1-4 weeks seems to reduce crying time. It may also increase the number of infants in whom colic resolves. The products used in research include ColiMil by Milte Italia SPA, ColiMil Plus by Milte Italia SPA, and Calma-Bebi by Bonomelli.

Diseases that interfere with thinking (dementia). It's unclear if lemon balm helps reduce agitation in people with dementia. Results from research are conflicting.

Depression. Early research shows that taking lemon balm with fertilized egg powder does not improve symptoms of depression compared to taking fertilized egg powder alone.

Side Effects & Safety

When taken by mouth: Lemon balm is LIKELY SAFE when used in food amounts. Lemon balm is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts, short-term. It's been used safely in research for up to 4 months. Side effects are generally mild and may including increased appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, and wheezing. Not enough is known about the safety of lemon balm when used long-term.

When applied to the skin: Lemon balm is POSSIBLY SAFE for adults in medicinal amounts. It may cause skin irritation and increased cold sore symptoms.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if lemon balm is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Infants and children. Lemon balm is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken appropriately by mouth for about one month.

Diabetes. Lemon balm might lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use lemon balm.

Surgery: Lemon balm might cause too much drowsiness if combined with medications used during and after surgery. Stop using lemon balm at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Thyroid disease: There is a concern that lemon balm may change thyroid function, reduce thyroid hormone levels, and interfere with thyroid hormone-replacement therapy. Avoid lemon balm if you have thyroid disease.

Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

ADULTS

BY MOUTH:

For Alzheimer disease: 60 drops per day of a standardized lemon balm extract has been used for 4 months.

For anxiety: 300 mg of a standardized lemon balm extract (Cyracos by Naturex SA) taken twice daily for 15 days has been used. Also 0.23 mL/kg body weight of a combination product containing 13 ingredients including lemon balm (Klosterfrau Melissengeist, Klosterfrau) taken three times daily for 8 weeks has been used.

For insomnia: 300 mg of a standardized lemon balm extract (Cyracos by Naturex SA) has been used twice daily for 15 days. Also, a specific combination product containing 80 mg of lemon balm leaf extract and 160 mg of valerian root extract (Euvegal forte, Dr. Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals) has been taken 2-3 times daily for up to 30 days. Also, tablets containing 170 mg of valerian root, 50 mg of hops, 50 mg of lemon balm, and 50 mg of motherwort have been used. Three capsules containing 1000 mg of lemon balm and 400 mg of Nepeta menthoides have also been taken nightly for 4 weeks.

For stress: Many different doses have been studied in scientific research. A single dose of 600 mg of lemon balm extract during a stress test has been used. Also, a single dose of 300 mg of lemon balm extract (Bluenesse by Vital Solutions) has been added to food or drink and used during a mental test. Also, three tablets of a specific product containing 80 mg of lemon balm extract and 120 mg of valerian root extract per tablet (Songha Night by Pharmaton Natural Health Products) have been taken before a stress test. Also, a specific combination product containing 90 mg of passion flower, 90 mg of valerian root, 50 mg of lemon balm, and 90 mg of butterbur per tablet (Relaxane, Max Zeller Söhne AG) has been taken as one tablet three times daily for 3 days.

APPLIED TO THE SKIN:

For cold sores (herpes labialis): Cream containing 1% lemon balm extract (LomaHerpan by Infectopharm) has been applied 2-4 times daily. It is usually applied at the first sign of symptoms to a few days after the cold sores have healed.

CHILDREN

BY MOUTH:

For insomnia: 1-2 tablets of a specific combination product containing 80 mg of lemon balm leaf extract and 160 mg of valerian root extract (Euvegal forte, Dr. Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals) has been taken once or twice daily in children under 12 years-old.

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This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.